Outdoor lighting can add a touch of magic to your outdoor spaces and increase your enjoyment and use of your outdoor spaces and gardens. Not only do outdoor lights enhance the overall aesthetic appeal but they also provide safety and to some degree security. When it comes to choosing the right lighting, one crucial decision is whether to opt for 12 V or mains voltage outdoor lighting. In this blog we will explore the most significant benefits of low voltage outdoor lighting over mains voltage.
1. Safety
Safety is one of the most significant benefits of 12 V or 24 V outdoor lighting as is extremely safe. Working with mains voltage can be dangerous and requires significant trenching and cabling in contrast with 12 V garden lighting which is safe easy to install, maintain and service. The low voltage installations can be worked on live which you cannot do on mains voltage systems.
2. Less Invasive
Low voltage garden lighting does not need to be laid in conduit or buried to the regulation depth of 600mm in NZ. A flexible garden lighting cable is run from a transformer out to the garden lights which negates the need to dig deep trenches. Often the cable is just buried under mulch or under the surface and run along the edge of hard surfaces. This way the cable is less likely to be damaged by gardeners or further planting.
3. Flexibility and Scalability
The flexibility of a low voltage installation is unbeatable if compared to mains voltage. Light fixtures can easily be moved, changed and retrofitted without the costly and labour-intensive task of digging up trenches and digging trenching to new areas of the garden. Low voltage garden lighting is far more scalable, additional lights and circuits can usually be added very easily to an existing installation, therefore as your garden grows and changes your lighting system can grow with it.
4. Aesthetically Pleasing
Generally low voltage outdoor lights are significantly smaller making them easier to work with and to conceal so that they are less visible in the garden… your lovely garden or outdoor area does not need to be dominated by large ugly fittings. With garden lighting it is the light effect that should be most visible not necessarily the light source or fixture, this is especially so during daylight hours when you might only see the fitting. There are numerous garden lighting fittings on the market that are 25 mm in diameter and give stunning effects, this is simply not possible with mains voltage fixtures.
5. Versatility
12V lighting systems offer a range of lighting options, including spotlights, floodlights, path lights, recessed lights, wall lights to mention just a few. This means that you can create a customized outdoor lighting scheme that suits your specific needs and preferences. Often any one of these outdoor lights are available in a number of versions, shapes and colour finishes giving you more choice to enhance your garden and produce a stunning night scene.
At The Garden Lighting Company the majority of our outdoor lighting installations and designs are low voltage for the reasons listed above. This has proved over the last 35 years to be the best option and with the advancement in technologies just keeps getting better.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this or require more information we would love to hear from you.